FORMER Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, today, appeared before a UK Court.
The ex-minister, who was charged with receiving bribes in the form of cash, luxury goods, flights on private jets and the use of high-end properties in Britain in return for awarding oil contracts, was arraigned at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
According to Reuters, she spoke only to give her name, date of birth and address.
She was not asked to formally enter a plea, although her lawyer Mark Bowen told the court she would be pleading not guilty.
The charges against her, read out in court, all related to events alleged to have taken place in London.
Alison-Madueke, 63, was a key figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
She served as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 and also acted as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Prosecutor Andy Young said she was alleged to have accepted a wide range of advantages in cash and in kind from people who wanted to receive or continue to receive the award of oil contracts which he said were worth billions of dollars in total.
“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.”
The NCA said Alison-Madueke was accused of benefitting from at least 100,000 pounds in cash, chauffeur driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
Charges against her also detail financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods, the NCA said.
Since she left office she has been dogged by corruption allegations but denied the charges.
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